WHAT IF?
WHAT IF?
Data was stored in our DNA?
Data was stored in our DNA?
A speculation project that aims to understand how people react to implications of Big Data.
A speculation project that aims to understand how people react to implications of Big Data.
In the age of Big data, information explosion has touched every aspect of our daily lives. The project aims to explore people’s reactions to a What If? situation where data is stored inside you.
The activity placed the participants in this world using an object, and through interacting with the object asked them to wonder about their life in this world.
The Scenario Statement
The Scenario Statement
“250 years from now there has been a solar storm which has led to the erasure of all data storage and connectivity functionalities. In this changed world the transfer of data occurs through touch and thought.”
“250 years from now there has been a solar storm which has led to the erasure of all data storage and connectivity functionalities. In this changed world the transfer of data occurs through touch and thought.”
In this world, what would people’s needs be?
In this world, what would people’s needs be?
Data Piracy; Bio-cybersecurity: As data transfer occurs through touch the chances of data theft also increase. There is a need to combat this by being able to trace ownership of data and installing a firewall in place.
Accountability: How does one keep track of what data goes where? There is a need to ensure that data entries have been recorded and duly filed.
Data decay: Cells regenerate every 7 years. To ensure that there is no loss of data humans need to replicate and record the data externally as well and create a better back up. How does this happen?
Data Piracy; Bio-cybersecurity: As data transfer occurs through touch the chances of data theft also increase. There is a need to combat this by being able to trace ownership of data and installing a firewall in place.
Accountability: How does one keep track of what data goes where? There is a need to ensure that data entries have been recorded and duly filed.
Data decay: Cells regenerate every 7 years. To ensure that there is no loss of data humans need to replicate and record the data externally as well and create a better back up. How does this happen?
I decided to work on the need of Accountability in this world.
I decided to work on the need of Accountability in this world.
When data transfer is not recorded how is crime being prevented? Would there not be a need for a mechanism to ensure that there is a trace of ownership of data?
To address this very question, came the product Helixguard; a DNA watermark maker.
When data transfer is not recorded how is crime being prevented? Would there not be a need for a mechanism to ensure that there is a trace of ownership of data?
To address this very question, came the product Helixguard; a DNA watermark maker.
Helixguard is a personalized watermark creator that allows you to create a DNA watermark for external data being inputted in your body. This ensures an accountability in data sharing and helps in tracing ownership in case of any data theft. It is not possible to modify the external data after it has been integrated with the watermark.
Helixguard is a personalized watermark creator that allows you to create a DNA watermark for external data being inputted in your body. This ensures an accountability in data sharing and helps in tracing ownership in case of any data theft. It is not possible to modify the external data after it has been integrated with the watermark.
FRAMEWORKS USED TO ARRIVE AT THE SPECULATION
FRAMEWORKS USED TO ARRIVE AT THE SPECULATION
INSTANCE DATABASE
INSTANCE DATABASE
I collected a number of predictions across journal articles, research papers that supported the idea of dna data storage. I used these to build my world effectively by creatively using aspects of the predicted future of the technology.
I collected a number of predictions across journal articles, research papers that supported the idea of dna data storage. I used these to build my world effectively by creatively using aspects of the predicted future of the technology.
THE THING FROM THE FUTURE {GAME}
THE THING FROM THE FUTURE {GAME}
The thing from the future is a game that allows the player to determine integral aspects of their speculation such as the Arc, Terrain, Object and Mood. These aspects further helped in world building.
The thing from the future is a game that allows the player to determine integral aspects of their speculation such as the Arc, Terrain, Object and Mood. These aspects further helped in world building.
SPECULATIVE WORLD BUILDING
SPECULATIVE WORLD BUILDING
BUILDING AND CONDCUTING THE SPECULATION
BUILDING AND CONDCUTING THE SPECULATION
It has been at least 50 years since the solar storm hit Gaia and destroyed the existing data storage outlet functionalities. Climate change being the primary cause of this solar storm, more ecologically friendly methods to store data were looked at, with DNA being the most promising idea in the field. As the world has built and implemented the DNA storage system and Gaia Network, consensus among citizens has been scattered.
The government body of Regulatory Bureau for DNA Storage oversees the watermark operations under their Helixguard initiative.
It has been at least 50 years since the solar storm hit Gaia and destroyed the existing data storage outlet functionalities. Climate change being the primary cause of this solar storm, more ecologically friendly methods to store data were looked at, with DNA being the most promising idea in the field. As the world has built and implemented the DNA storage system and Gaia Network, consensus among citizens has been scattered.
The government body of Regulatory Bureau for DNA Storage oversees the watermark operations under their Helixguard initiative.
Speculation Objects
Speculation Objects
Flyers
Flyers
The participants’ primary contact with the world: Flyers slid under their door or handed to them on the roads
The participants’ primary contact with the world: Flyers slid under their door or handed to them on the roads
After distributing the flyers, I posed as an government employee with the RBDS who went door to door to ensure that everyone above the age of 15 had registered their watermark.
After distributing the flyers, I posed as an government employee with the RBDS who went door to door to ensure that everyone above the age of 15 had registered their watermark.
Helixguard Kits
Helixguard Kits
These kits were sealed and then handed to the participants by me. They contained the manual to make the watermark, the DNA threads and the tracker bead.
These kits were sealed and then handed to the participants by me. They contained the manual to make the watermark, the DNA threads and the tracker bead.
Manual
IMPLANTS MADE BY THE PARTICIPANTS
IMPLANTS MADE BY THE PARTICIPANTS
INSIGHTS GENERATED
INSIGHTS GENERATED
01
01
Give your users options, let them choose.
Only a government entity regulating the process made sense but there was a fear of a dictatorial takeover with so much power.
Give your users options, let them choose.
Only a government entity regulating the process made sense but there was a fear of a dictatorial takeover with so much power.
02
02
Users should not lose their sense of individuality in order for innovation.
The sense of information being in one’s body made them feel commodified and more at risk to crime.
Users should not lose their sense of individuality in order for innovation.
The sense of information being in one’s body made them feel commodified and more at risk to crime.
03
03
Ensure that your users feel they are in control.
People need control over anything that has any trace of them. Any sense of loss of control leads to a spiral of questioning the system.
Ensure that your users feel they are in control.
People need control over anything that has any trace of them. Any sense of loss of control leads to a spiral of questioning the system.
04
04
Feeling secure at all times is important, especially when introduced to a new system. The introduction of a new system altogether implies that the faults of the existing system don’t transfer to most users.
Feeling secure at all times is important, especially when introduced to a new system. The introduction of a new system altogether implies that the faults of the existing system don’t transfer to most users.
WHAT DID I LEARN?
WHAT DID I LEARN?
The immersive environment of the speculation allowed me to get raw responses of panic, joy, horror from the participants. The methodology struck to me as a great way to conduct user research.
I also learnt that at all times no aspect of any design should make the users feel loss of control. The design should be intuitive but always respond to what a user would want. Giving users a choice is a good way for them to warm up to product.
Apart from this, my views on speculation design as a tool changed greatly as well. Initially I thought it was restricted for technological growth but now I understand its application in public policy, and the general well-being of society as well.
Speculation as a tool to get raw insights was my takeaway from this project.
The immersive environment of the speculation allowed me to get raw responses of panic, joy, horror from the participants. The methodology struck to me as a great way to conduct user research.
I also learnt that at all times no aspect of any design should make the users feel loss of control. The design should be intuitive but always respond to what a user would want. Giving users a choice is a good way for them to warm up to product.
Apart from this, my views on speculation design as a tool changed greatly as well. Initially I thought it was restricted for technological growth but now I understand its application in public policy, and the general well-being of society as well.
Speculation as a tool to get raw insights was my takeaway from this project.
